Marin dog walkers take to the Internet to plead case for Golden Gate National Recreation Area access

While hundreds of dog walkers offered comments at an open house Wednesday in Mill Valley about proposed Golden Gate National Recreation Area leash regulations, others are getting their word out another way: the Internet.

Pro-pooch forces have taken to the Web and social media to register their concerns about proposed rules that would limit their pets' off-leash time and even ban them from some federal park areas in Marin.

Two Facebook pages and a website have sprung up in the wake of a draft plan released by the GGNRA in January.

Dogs would be off limits on Muir and South Rodeo beaches — where they are now allowed to run under voice control — and they would have to be leashed on Marin Headlands trails and in the Homestead Valley under the proposed plan. The draft plan covers 21 sites within the GGNRA — eight in Marin — and shows options for each.

The group Keep Muir Beach Dog Friendly has launched a website — KeepMuirBeachDogFriendly.com — in response to an element of the plan that would outlaw dogs on the beach.

"We hope everyone who enjoys Muir Beach will take the time to comment on the proposed plan and, hopefully, change the direction of the plan," said Muir Beach resident Joanie Wynn, who established the website. "We believe that, with proper enforcement of existing laws, public education and better signage at Muir Beach, dog lovers and non-dog lovers can coexist."

Two Facebook pages — "Dogs of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area" and "Keep Muir Beach Dog Friendly" — have also been created.

On Wednesday at Tamalpais High School the first of four workshops on the plan was held. There, people interested in the issue went from station to station to look at poster boards and comment.

"I do think the preferred alternative is almost Draconian," said Margaret Harding of Mill Valley, who suggested a permit system for good dog walkers to allow pets off leash. Such a system exists in Boulder, Colo. "This plan doesn't acknowledge that it is a national recreation area that is unique. As they reduce the areas where we can walk dogs, it will put enormous pressure on the places you can."

Said Marabeth Grahame of Mill Valley: "It's our culture; people should be able to get outside, and we get outside with our dogs."

But others thought the proposed rules should be put in place.

"Dogs should be controlled," said Barbara Salzman, president of Marin Audubon, who attended the session. "You can't say no dogs everywhere, but they should be on leash at all times and they should not be in places where they impact habitat."

The controversial issue has pitted passionate dog owners against park officials and environmentalists. Dog owners say their dogs need space to run, but there have been complaints lodged with recreation area officials about aggressive dogs attacking people and smaller animals scaring children and trampling on sensitive wildlife habitat.

The debate dates to 1979, when a special rule was created to allow dogs off leash. After fielding complaints about dog problems, in 2001 park officials tried to implement a policy that required leashes.

But in June 2005, a U.S. District Court judge ruled the recreation area failed to take public comment before requiring dogs be leashed. In response to the ruling, recreation area officials said dogs could be off leash in certain areas as long as they were under "voice control."

Now the GGNRA is trying to strike a balance to protect wildlife habitat and people, while allowing dogs and their owners places to recreate.

GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean said he hopes for many comments on the plan.

"The recommendations made in this plan will affect the full spectrum of park visitors, including dog walkers, surfers, hikers, joggers, and families," he said.

To comment on the plan through April 14, visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov/goga or write to: Superintendent Frank Dean, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Building 201, Fort Mason, San Francisco 94123-0022.